On November 25, a memorial altar was set up at Room 30 on the 3rd floor of Seoul Asan Medical Center in Pungnap-dong, Songpa District. Lee Soon Jae’s wife, Choi Hee Jung, and their children are receiving mourners at the site.
Within just an hour of the altar’s establishment, the entrance of the funeral hall was already lined with floral tributes sent by colleagues and associates in the industry, honoring the late actor’s legacy.
Floral arrangements were sent by veteran actors such as Choi Bool Am, Na Moon Hee, and Im Ha Ryong, alongside messages from junior stars including Ha Jung Woo, Ahn Jae Wook, Shin Min Ah, and Kim Woo Bin. Notable figures from the music and broadcasting world, like singer Jin Sung and producer Shin Won Ho, also extended their condolences.
Particularly moving were the tributes from Kim Yong Gun, who had traveled with Lee on the popular tvN variety show Grandpas Over Flowers, and Park Hae Mi, who starred alongside him in MBC’s sitcom High Kick!. These connections added an emotional layer to the public mourning.
According to his family, Lee Soon Jae passed away in the early hours of November 25 at the age of 91.
Born in 1934 in Hoeryong, Lee graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in philosophy and debuted in 1956 with the play Beyond the Horizon. Over his prolific career spanning nearly 70 years, he appeared in over 140 dramas and films, including Hur Jun, The Merchant, Lee San, Wind of the Palace, High Kick!, High Kick Through the Roof, and most recently Dog Knows Everything, earning the admiration of generations.
Recognized as the oldest active actor in Korea, Lee left the stage in October 2024 due to health concerns. Yet earlier this year, he made history as the oldest recipient of the Grand Prize at the KBS Drama Awards.
Beyond acting, Lee also served as a lawmaker in Korea’s 14th National Assembly under the Democratic Liberal Party, contributing briefly to the political landscape.
His funeral will be held on November 27 at 6:20 a.m., and he will be laid to rest at Eden Paradise in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Sources: naver